Is there an ideal team balance?

All the talk about whether or not Australia's lack of a fifth bowler hindered them during the Ashes got me thinking - is there an ideal template for building a successful team, or is it just a case of whatever works?

Australia have proven that four bowlers can work extremely effectively, but only when one of those is a spinner capable of bowling long spells and taking wickets on any surface, and another is one of the greatest pace bowlers world cricket has seen. Other teams that have played only four bowlers have failed dismally.

England have proven that five bowlers can be a massive advantage - however, for this to work the team really has to have a world-class all-rounder a la Flintoff. England have shown in the past that if the all-rounder isn't good enough (e.g. Craig White, Dominic Cork, Gavin Hamilton, Flintoff c.1998) then it can put increased pressure on the other bowlers and the batsmen.

And I'm not just talking about whether four or five bowlers is better - there are issues outside that area too, for example the style of opener you employ (do you pick Sehwag and Gibbs, Richardson and Atherton, or one of each type?), where in the order different types of batsmen should bat (is Bell good enough for no4? Should Katich bat higher? etc), what to do if you don't have a Gilchrist (pick Jones or Read?), how important it is that one or two of your bowlers can bat (would you take Pollock over McGrath?), and is it better to pick a wicket-taking spinner or one who keeps it tight if you can't have both (MacGill or Giles?). All these are issues which international selectors all over the world have to consider, and their decisions are always analysed and criticised six ways from Sunday - so let's canvas the CW opinion.

This thread isn't intended to start some heated arguments (as some threads have done recently) - this is all a matter of opinion, guys.

Personally, I would say it depends on what the core of the side is. Now, speaking from an Indian perspective, Gambhir is picked as the foil to Sehwag, not because he can defend well, but because he is overall a better opener than most in India. The middle order is basically settled, with only the no.6 spot up for grabs once Sachin comes back and Sourav is dumped. As far as the wicketkeeper issue is concerned, I would say you should always play your best keeper in test matches. For ODIs, it is okay to compromise, but for tests, you need the best man with the gloves. And again, from the Indian view, I would pick Kaarthick for tests. And as far as bowlers who can bat goes, India is lucky to have Pathan, Kumble and Harbhajan and Zaheer as their four main bowlers, all of whom can hold a bat decently as far as tailender standards go.

But speaking in general...

1. The best openers should be picked, as in who is most likely to make runs. How they make them does not really matter.

2. The batsman best equipped to face the new ball should bat at 3. The best batsman in the middle order should bat at 4, the next best at 5 and the last one at 6.

3. The best keeper should be picked, period. Especially in Tests.

4. The four best bowlers should be picked. The runs will always be a bonus.

We miss you, Fardin. :(. RIP.

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

In the end, I think it's so utterly, incomprehensibly boring. There is so much context behind each innings of cricket that dissecting statistics into these small samples is just worthless. No-one has ever been faced with the same situation in which they come out to bat as someone else. Ever.

I think there is always a best balance, given the players available and the conditions in which the game is to be played. I don't think there is any such thing as an "ideal balance" for a theoretical team in all conditions.

Your team must be able to take 20 wickets (assuming you are trying to win)
Your team must be able to score more runs than the opposition can score for their 20 wickets. If you pick a team and you don't think you can score the runs you must weaken the bowling (which includes possibly picking a worse keeper, since he is effectively part of the bowling attack). If you pick a team and don't think you can take the wickets then you must weaken the batting. Simple!

Is there an ideal team balance?

Yes there is but it can be achieved by 14 players. Seven batsmen, one wicket keeper, six bowlers (including two FAST bowlers, two medium pacers and two spinners !!

Hence the need for , ideally, two all rounders and a wicket keeper who can bat. While batting wicket keepers are blooming due to the advent of the one day game, the traditional all rounder is so rare,

I am always adked why two medium pacers and not four tearaway fast bowlers. We seem to think that a medium pacer is merely some one who doesnt bowl terribly fast. While that is factually correct, that is not the reason for his being in the team. Bedser would command a position in any team in the world today (so would MacGrath who is really medium pace as of now) before most FAST bowlers,

Fast, medium and spinners have different jobs to do and all have a place, Since we are constrained by availability of both genuine all rounders and classy bowlers of all varieties we have started believing that only two types of bowlers will do. Thank God for Murali and Warne otherwise we may have believed bowers are all made in one mould

Yes there is but it can be achieved by 14 players. Seven batsmen, one wicket keeper, six bowlers (including two FAST bowlers, two medium pacers and two spinners !!

Hence the need for , ideally, two all rounders and a wicket keeper who can bat. While batting wicket keepers are blooming due to the advent of the one day game, the traditional all rounder is so rare,

I am always adked why two medium pacers and not four tearaway fast bowlers. We seem to think that a medium pacer is merely some one who doesnt bowl terribly fast. While that is factually correct, that is not the reason for his being in the team. Bedser would command a position in any team in the world today (so would MacGrath who is really medium pace as of now) before most FAST bowlers,

Fast, medium and spinners have different jobs to do and all have a place, Since we are constrained by availability of both genuine all rounders and classy bowlers of all varieties we have started believing that only two types of bowlers will do. Thank God for Murali and Warne otherwise we may have believed bowers are all made in one mould

2. Frank Worrell Right arm legspinner
(One of the greatest West Indian batsmen, arguably one of the finest captains of all time, brilliant fielder, bowled leg breaks which brought him 69 test wickets in his 345 first class scalps. He averaged nearly 50 -49.5- in tests and 54.2 in FCC. Scored 191 not out as an opener against England in a test)

3) Sobers Left arm pace, medium pace, orthodox finger spin and chinaman cum googly
(Nothing needs be said. scored his world record 365 not out at number three-probably the greatest all round fielder the game has seen, slips, gully, cover point, out field even keeper !!))

4. Frank Woolley - left arm spinner
(Scorer of nearly 60 thousand first class runs including 145 centuries, over 2000 wickets and over a thousand catches !! Inspired poetry to describe his graceful batting AND kept wickets for England if I remember right !!)

5. Keith Miller right arm fast - outswing and off cutters
(Great genuine fast bowler and good enough to bat at number four for a strong Australian batting side-great fielder anywhere)

6. Leslie Ames
(one of the finest keepers in the history of the game. His great keeping is not known of only because of his amzingly good batting. Only keeper with more than 100 first class centuries. Scored 3000 FC runs in a season, 2000 in a season 5 times and 1000 in a season 17 times ! Highest stumpings by far in the history of the game - 417 in 593 first class matches and 23 in just 47 test matches. Had 64 stumpings in one season. Of the four times in the history of the game that any keeper has scored a thousand runs and taken a 100 scalps, thrice it has been him !! Averaged 40.5 with the bat in tests, Twice won the award for the fastest hundred in an English season.)

7. Ian Botham Right arm pace - outswing
(Fast bowler, attacking batsman who could tear apart the best attacks in the game and exceptional fielder)

8. Imran Khan Right arm fast Inswing
(Great fast bowler and very good batsman with sound technique to defend and big strokes if required)

9. Richie Benaud Right arm leg spin and googly
(Great leg spinner. Under rated only because his country produced so many greats of his type. One of the greatest gully fielders)

10. Wilfred Rhodes Left arm spin
(40,000 first class runs and over 4000 wickets plus 765 catches. Opened the batting with Hobbs by prescriptive right later in his career and was his partner in the record opening partnership against Australia. Recalled for England in his 50th year against Australia he won the game and the series for them bowling 48 overs for 96 runs and 5 wickets !!)

11. Richard Hadlee Right arm fast - swung both ways
(One of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game. Extremely competent lower order batsman)

2. Frank Worrell Right arm legspinner
(One of the greatest West Indian batsmen, arguably one of the finest captains of all time, brilliant fielder, bowled leg breaks which brought him 69 test wickets in his 345 first class scalps. He averaged nearly 50 -49.5- in tests and 54.2 in FCC. Scored 191 not out as an opener against England in a test)

3) Sobers Left arm pace, medium pace, orthodox finger spin and chinaman cum googly
(Nothing needs be said. scored his world record 365 not out at number three-probably the greatest all round fielder the game has seen, slips, gully, cover point, out field even keeper !!))

4. Frank Woolley - left arm spinner
(Scorer of nearly 60 thousand first class runs including 145 centuries, over 2000 wickets and over a thousand catches !! Inspired poetry to describe his graceful batting AND kept wickets for England if I remember right !!)

5. Keith Miller right arm fast - outswing and off cutters
(Great genuine fast bowler and good enough to bat at number four for a strong Australian batting side-great fielder anywhere)

6. Leslie Ames
(one of the finest keepers in the history of the game. His great keeping is not known of only because of his amzingly good batting. Only keeper with more than 100 first class centuries. Scored 3000 FC runs in a season, 2000 in a season 5 times and 1000 in a season 17 times ! Highest stumpings by far in the history of the game - 417 in 593 first class matches and 23 in just 47 test matches. Had 64 stumpings in one season. Of the four times in the history of the game that any keeper has scored a thousand runs and taken a 100 scalps, thrice it has been him !! Averaged 40.5 with the bat in tests, Twice won the award for the fastest hundred in an English season.)

7. Ian Botham Right arm pace - outswing
(Fast bowler, attacking batsman who could tear apart the best attacks in the game and exceptional fielder)

8. Imran Khan Right arm fast Inswing
(Great fast bowler and very good batsman with sound technique to defend and big strokes if required)

9. Richie Benaud Right arm leg spin and googly
(Great leg spinner. Under rated only because his country produced so many greats of his type. One of the greatest gully fielders)

10. Wilfred Rhodes Left arm spin
(40,000 first class runs and over 4000 wickets plus 765 catches. Opened the batting with Hobbs by prescriptive right later in his career and was his partner in the record opening partnership against Australia. Recalled for England in his 50th year against Australia he won the game and the series for them bowling 48 overs for 96 runs and 5 wickets !!)

11. Richard Hadlee Right arm fast - swung both ways
(One of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game. Extremely competent lower order batsman)

2. Frank Worrell Right arm legspinner
(One of the greatest West Indian batsmen, arguably one of the finest captains of all time, brilliant fielder, bowled leg breaks which brought him 69 test wickets in his 345 first class scalps. He averaged nearly 50 -49.5- in tests and 54.2 in FCC. Scored 191 not out as an opener against England in a test)

3) Sobers Left arm pace, medium pace, orthodox finger spin and chinaman cum googly
(Nothing needs be said. scored his world record 365 not out at number three-probably the greatest all round fielder the game has seen, slips, gully, cover point, out field even keeper !!))

4. Frank Woolley - left arm spinner
(Scorer of nearly 60 thousand first class runs including 145 centuries, over 2000 wickets and over a thousand catches !! Inspired poetry to describe his graceful batting AND kept wickets for England if I remember right !!)

5. Keith Miller right arm fast - outswing and off cutters
(Great genuine fast bowler and good enough to bat at number four for a strong Australian batting side-great fielder anywhere)

6. Leslie Ames
(one of the finest keepers in the history of the game. His great keeping is not known of only because of his amzingly good batting. Only keeper with more than 100 first class centuries. Scored 3000 FC runs in a season, 2000 in a season 5 times and 1000 in a season 17 times ! Highest stumpings by far in the history of the game - 417 in 593 first class matches and 23 in just 47 test matches. Had 64 stumpings in one season. Of the four times in the history of the game that any keeper has scored a thousand runs and taken a 100 scalps, thrice it has been him !! Averaged 40.5 with the bat in tests, Twice won the award for the fastest hundred in an English season.)

7. Ian Botham Right arm pace - outswing
(Fast bowler, attacking batsman who could tear apart the best attacks in the game and exceptional fielder)

8. Imran Khan Right arm fast Inswing
(Great fast bowler and very good batsman with sound technique to defend and big strokes if required)

9. Richie Benaud Right arm leg spin and googly
(Great leg spinner. Under rated only because his country produced so many greats of his type. One of the greatest gully fielders)

10. Wilfred Rhodes Left arm spin
(40,000 first class runs and over 4000 wickets plus 765 catches. Opened the batting with Hobbs by prescriptive right later in his career and was his partner in the record opening partnership against Australia. Recalled for England in his 50th year against Australia he won the game and the series for them bowling 48 overs for 96 runs and 5 wickets !!)

11. Richard Hadlee Right arm fast - swung both ways
(One of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game. Extremely competent lower order batsman)

Now if that team can't take 20 wickets i'm lost!!!

R.I.P Fardin Qayyumi (Cricket Player)

'Last one on drugs is a queer,' yells portillo..
Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things. And no good thing ever dies......Self appointed president of the KPPAS

Generally when I'm selecting teams in WCC, I try and get 5 batsmen, 1 all-rounder, 1 wicket-keeper, and 4 bowlers. Or 6 batsmen, a keeper and 4 bowlers if the batting needs to be bolstered. I think that's the best balance I can get.

They actually had a choice to select a team like this. I dont think these 11 ever played together in a test but all of them have played with each other and it could have happened. The all rounders are rare only now. There have been teams from australia which had so many all round players.

I forgot. They also had Colin Blythe. 100 wickets in 19 tests at 18.6 3ach. 9 times in 19 test he got a five for.

In Rhodes, Hirst and Woolley they had three of the finest all rounders in the history of the game and they had so many others like Jackson who were like the all rounders of today. Bowling all rounders or batting all rounders.

2. Frank Worrell Right arm legspinner
(One of the greatest West Indian batsmen, arguably one of the finest captains of all time, brilliant fielder, bowled leg breaks which brought him 69 test wickets in his 345 first class scalps. He averaged nearly 50 -49.5- in tests and 54.2 in FCC. Scored 191 not out as an opener against England in a test)

3) Sobers Left arm pace, medium pace, orthodox finger spin and chinaman cum googly
(Nothing needs be said. scored his world record 365 not out at number three-probably the greatest all round fielder the game has seen, slips, gully, cover point, out field even keeper !!))

4. Frank Woolley - left arm spinner
(Scorer of nearly 60 thousand first class runs including 145 centuries, over 2000 wickets and over a thousand catches !! Inspired poetry to describe his graceful batting AND kept wickets for England if I remember right !!)

5. Keith Miller right arm fast - outswing and off cutters
(Great genuine fast bowler and good enough to bat at number four for a strong Australian batting side-great fielder anywhere)

6. Leslie Ames
(one of the finest keepers in the history of the game. His great keeping is not known of only because of his amzingly good batting. Only keeper with more than 100 first class centuries. Scored 3000 FC runs in a season, 2000 in a season 5 times and 1000 in a season 17 times ! Highest stumpings by far in the history of the game - 417 in 593 first class matches and 23 in just 47 test matches. Had 64 stumpings in one season. Of the four times in the history of the game that any keeper has scored a thousand runs and taken a 100 scalps, thrice it has been him !! Averaged 40.5 with the bat in tests, Twice won the award for the fastest hundred in an English season.)

7. Ian Botham Right arm pace - outswing
(Fast bowler, attacking batsman who could tear apart the best attacks in the game and exceptional fielder)

8. Imran Khan Right arm fast Inswing
(Great fast bowler and very good batsman with sound technique to defend and big strokes if required)

9. Richie Benaud Right arm leg spin and googly
(Great leg spinner. Under rated only because his country produced so many greats of his type. One of the greatest gully fielders)

10. Wilfred Rhodes Left arm spin
(40,000 first class runs and over 4000 wickets plus 765 catches. Opened the batting with Hobbs by prescriptive right later in his career and was his partner in the record opening partnership against Australia. Recalled for England in his 50th year against Australia he won the game and the series for them bowling 48 overs for 96 runs and 5 wickets !!)

11. Richard Hadlee Right arm fast - swung both ways
(One of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game. Extremely competent lower order batsman)

Where is Mandy Slimtoff?

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Don't like using my iPod dock. Ruins battery life too much.

Originally Posted by benchmark00

Thanks Dick Smith. Will remember to subscribe to your newsletter for more electronic fun facts.